Writing in a personal capacity to share views, information and resources for teachers, trade unionists and campaigners in London - and beyond!

Thursday, 13 January 2011

Pensions ballot - we can't delay!

LET's TAKE ACTION TO SAY NO to 10% CONTRIBUTIONS!

With the UCU posed to announce a ballot for action on pensions at the end of January, I hope that the NUT Executive next week will agree to call a co-ordinated ballot of our members too. (UPDATE: UCU ballot of Teacher Pension Scheme members confirmed for Feb 23 to March 11)

Above all, an early ballot makes sure that we are showing our strength before the Tories and Hutton make final decisions - not afterwards when its harder to force them back.

But the latest news that the Government wants to finalise its plans to increase our pension contribution rates to around 10% of salaries - an extra 3.5% - by mid-February - in time for the March 23rd Budget - surely confirms that there can be no question of delaying our ballot.

Martin Powell-Davies

* Brought up as a socialist by parents who hungered for what is right * One adopted grandfather left me a double-barrelled name, the other his name on a 1926 General Strike black-list * Joined the Labour Party as a teenager, left it when it abandoned the values and traditions of so many who built it in the past * Given a comprehensive education at St.Andrew's, Leatherhead * First-class degree from King's College, Cambridge, for those who like that kind of thing * Secondary science teacher in London 1986-2015 * Lewisham NUT Secretary 1993-2015, organiser of many campaigns to defend teachers and education * Living in Sydenham since 1997, father of four who were all so well-supported by Sedgehill School * Member of the NUT National Executive 2010-15 * NUT London Regional Secretary 2016 - * Proud to have been name-checked by Gove for saying that his 'reforms' could make teaching unbearable * Member of the CWI, following its global struggles via http://www.socialistworld.net * Candidate for TUSC in Lewisham West & Penge, 2015 * Member of Penge CC, often a 'Middle Aged Man In Lycra' on Sundays